Tumor > Malignant > Carcinosarcoma

Carsinosarcoma:

Clinical:

A very rare tumor found primarily in middle age to elderly males- it accounts for only 0.2-0.3% of all lung tumors. Histologically the lesion contains both malignant mesenchymal and epithelial components. The lesion is strongly associated with cigarette smoking and has also been described with asbestos. It is usually locally invasive, widely metastatic, and associated with a poor prognosis. Small, endobronchial lesions (less than 3 cm in size) seemingly have a better prognosis- probably due to development of symptoms that leads to earlier medical attention.

X-ray:

On CXR the lesion appears as a large peripheral mass with sharp margins with an upper lobe predilection and the tumor may extend through the pleura into the chest wall. The central form has a tendency to grow peripherally within the bronchi and may resemble mucous plugs.

REFERENCES:

(1) AJR 1997; 169: 691-694

Page 1 of 12
Next Page